Convector heating surface with diffusing damper



Nov. 1, 1955 J. P. GUERRA EI'AL CONVECTOR HEATING SURFACE WITH DIFFUSING DAMPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1954 waiifi m QE w a .2

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m Pf% mm MM JR a Q m N ad 0 3 2 Q mum; m, H mm mm m M%A z m @N sim P r n w fi ,1 mm mm r t I I I IHIIIII II II 0 2 m m 111: h .JDA m H u w Q. m @T M w H w M H $7: R C K W m MN. 4 nm G w M W ml J T m Tu m u 2w N m m w mm w 1 m 5 3 M Q 333% W W 5;: v w I'll n u m m a mg RN QR Jaw Unitfid States ent CONVECTOR HEATING SURFACE WITH DIFFUSING DAMPER Application March 23, 1954, Serial No. 418,064 Claims. (Cl. 257133) This invention relates to heat transfer equipment of the type commonly called a convector or baseboard heat ing surface, and it has particular reference to apparatus of this nature in which there is provided an improved bracket member for supporting the various components, one of which is advantageously a movable damper for controlling the flow of air through the convector casing, and which is positionable to diffuse the emergent air stream, thereby to increase the efiiciency of operation.

The various features and numerous advantages of the invention will be made apparent from a perusal of the following description of typical embodiments, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the convector;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the upper part of the bracket shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a supporting saddle;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a radiating fin;

Fig. 6 is a section, similar to Fig. 2, but incorporating another type of pipe support; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the pipe support shown in Fig. 6.

Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a back plate or casing 11, adapted to be mounted against the lower part of an interior wall at the baseboard level. The plate 11 includes a substantially horizontal top section 12 which merges into a downwardly inclined portion 13, the forward edge of which is bent inwardly to provide a ledge 14, slightly spaced from the inner surface of the portion 13. The section 12 is bent at substantially right angles to the back 15 of the plate 11, the lower edge of which is bent forward to provide a toe 16 adapted to rest on the floor. The plate 11 may be secured to the building wall in any desired manner, as by means of nails or screws driven through the wall into the studding, as will be readily understood.

v ,A plurality of bracket members, generally designated by the reference numeral 20, are mounted within the plate 11 in suitably spaced relation. Each member 20 comprises a vertical back web 21 (Fig. 3), bent forwardly at its lower edge to conform to the curvature of the toe 16 of the casing, and there formed with an aperture to receive a screw 22 by means of which the bracket is retained within the plate 11. The bracket 20 is also formed with a side web 23, substantially coextensive in length with the back web 21, the upper portion of which is bent over to provide a horizontal flange 24 and a forwardly inclined flange 25, respectively adapted to abut the inner surface of the casing top 12 and to engage within the ledge 14. These contacts further serve to interconnect the brackets and casing member 11, and to support the top of the casing against collapse or bending under heavy accidental loads. It will be noted that the flange 24 is slightly spaced from the back web 21 through a gap 26, which not only facilitates fabrication, but also provides clearance at the dihedral angle of the casing 11.

The side web 23 merges at its lower end into a forwardly projecting generally triangular flange 27, which is contiguous with a horizontal shelf 28. This shelf is slit and pressed to form a shallow trough 29, the metal deforming sufficiently to effect this configuration. Saddle members 31 are mounted in these troughs. Each saddle comprises a bail-like bent rod, having horizontal ends 32 adapted to be pushed or sprung into the openings at the ends of the trough 29 to underlie the uncut portion of the shelf 28, and spaced upright portions 33 interconnected by a loop portion 34. The several saddles on the spaced brackets 20 support the heat exchange surface or coil, herein shown as comprising a single pipe 36 provided with spaced fins 37. The saddles engage between adjacent fins and, due to their formation and mounting, they may rock slightly to either side of the perpendicular, to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction effects in the fin and tube assembly.

As is also shown in Fig. 5, the fins 37 are generally rectangular in shape, and are embossed with ribs 38 and 39 to increase their strength and impart better turbulence to the air stream. They are also of the self spacing type, each having a continuous annular flange 41 extending outwardly from the pipe aperture 42. Small spaced protuberances 43 are struck up from the plane of the fin, around the aperture 42, in the direction opposite to the projection of the ribs 38 and 39 and the flange 41. It has been found that this formation aids in obtaining better contact with the pipe or tube 36, and also improves the heat transfer to the air, both of which features increase the efiiciency. i

The bracket 20 is also formed with a forwardly projecting flange or finger 45 having an upwardly curved tip 46, which is above and in line with the lower triangular flange 27. The forward extremity of the flange 27 is formed with adepending tab 47, which, in conjunction with the finger tip 46, provides a support for a front panel 48. The edges 49 and 51 of the panel are bent inwardly, and the assembly is effected by positioning the edge 49 over the tip 46, and snapping the lower edge 51 over the tab 47. It will be noted that there is an open space below the lower edge 51 of the front panel 48 and the floor, and also between the upper edge 49 and the ledge 14, so that air may circulate upwardly from the floor, around the tube 36 and between the fins 37, and thence back into the room.

The brackets 20 are also formed with means to support lengths of sheet metal which provide dampers and diffusers for the air currents. The side web 23 is made of somewhat greater width above the finger 45, and it is bent longitudinally or at right angles to provide a forwardly inclined or lateral flange 55, formed with an arcuate portion 56 at its outer edge, and with a notch 57 at its lower edge. Asomewhat resilient clip or half bearing 58 is formed at its upper edge with a semi-circular portion 59,. and at its lower edge with a forwardly projecting tongue 61. Boththe clip 58 and the flange 55 are apertured to receive, a retaining screw 62. It will be seen from inspection of the drawing that the tongue 61 may engage in the notch 57 and abut the lower edge of the flange 55, and the screw 62 holds the parts together, with the curved portions 56 and 59 in spaced relation, thereby forming a bearing. A tubular shaft 65 is mounted in the several bearings thus pro vided, and the tension on the screws 62 is made sufficient to hold the shaft in any position to which it is rotated. but permitting the shaft to be rotated by hand when desired. The arcuate portions 56 and 59 do not abut each other, and the clip member 58 is sufiiciently resilient that the shaft 65 may be snapped into position, and then be adequately retained for its intended purposes.

An angular or somewhat T-shaped damper and diffuser 66 is mounted on the shaft 65, and .it comprises an upper section 67, welded or otherwise secured tangentially to the shaft, and a lower section 68, connected to the section 67 and depending therefrom forwardly of the shaft. The upper section is formed with a bead 69 along its front edge, and the lower section is formed with an inwardly bent flange 71 along its lower edge. In the full line position, as shown in Fig. 2, the flange 71 abuts the edges of the brackets 20, to provide a limit stop. In this position, the section 67 projects substantially horizontally in the space between the front panel 48 and the top casing section 13. The upwardly rising air stream is thereby divided for flow on either side of the sections 68 and 67, and, in this position. the combined portions 68 and 67 constitute a diffuser, which, by dividing the air stream, favorably affects its delivery into the room, and thereby adds to the efficiency of operation.

When the member 66 is shifted to the broken line position, the finger tip 46 provides a limit stop, and the bead 69 is then almost in contact with the ledge 14. In this position, the member 66 constitutes a damper, substantially closing the upper opening into the room, and thus reducing air circulation to a minimum. It will be apparent that the damper may be given any intermediate position, and thereby control the degree of heating to conform to the desires of the room occupants.

in the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the construction is unchanged except for the replacement of the saddles 31 by pipe supports 75, each comprising a back web 76, and a side web 77 formed with a semicircular socket or saddle portion 78. The supports 75 are mounted on the brackets 20 by screws passing through apertures 79. While the temperature-compensating saddles 31 are preferred for most applications, the supports 75 may be indicated in special instances. It will be obvious that the supports 75 may be somewhat loosely mounted, so as to enable them to swing slightly, and thus function as the saddles 31 to move under expansion and contraction effects.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides an improved heating apparatus of the convector type. The brackets '20 perform a number of functions. They support the heating surface, give strength to the casing top, retain the front panel, provide a bearing for a movable damper and also limit stops for the movement thereof. circulation in its closed position, but, when open, diffuses the air stream to enhance the desired heating effect. While the invention has been described with primary reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it admits of numerous variations and modifications, as will be apparent from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A wall type heating surface assembly comprising a back plate having a plane portion adapted to be secured to a wall and a top portion projecting forwardly of said plane portion, spaced bracket members positioned in the back plate, each of said bracket members including a pair of forwardly projecting spaced flanges, a front panel positioned on said flanges, said flanges being respectively spaced from the top portion and the floor line to provide openings for circulating air, the lower of said flanges being provided with a shelf, a substantially vertical saddle mounted on the shelf for swinging movement, and a heat exchange member mounted on the several saddles.

2. A wall type heating surface assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shelf is substantially horizontal and is formed with a depressed portion having a slit at each end thereof, and the saddle comprises a bent rod The damper itself not only serves to reduce air having ends hooked into the slits and a top. portion for supporting the heat exchange member.

3. A wall type heating surface assembly comprising a vertical back plate formed with a forwardly extending top, a plurality of spaced brackets mounted on the back plate, forwardly extending flanges on each of the brackets, a front panel mounted on the flanges, said panel being spaced along its edges from the top and the floor line, means on the bracket for supporting a heat exchange element, a heat exchange element mounted between the back plate and front panel on the several supporting means, a lateral flange formed on the bracket between the upper of said forwardly extending flanges and the top, a bearing carried by said lateral flange, a shaft mounted for rotary movement in the several bearings, and a damper connected to the shaft for movement to substantially open or close the space between the front panel and top.

4. A wall type heating surface assembly comprising a back plate and a forwardly projecting top contiguous therewith, a plurality of brackets mounted on the back plate in spaced relation, a pair of spaced forwardly projecting flanges formed on each bracket, a front panel mounted on the flanges and having edges spaced from the top and the floor line, a heat exchange element positioned between the front panel and back plate, means on each bracket for supporting the heat exchange element, a lateral flange formed on each bracket between the upper of said forwardly projecting flanges and the top, a bearing carried by said lateral flange, a shaft rotatably mounted in the several bearings, a damper including a substantially rectangular upper section secured along one edge to the shaft and a substantially rectangular lower section secured to the upper section between the edges thereof, the widths of said sections being such that when the damper is swung into one position it substantially closes the space between the front panel and the top and when swung to another position the said sections divide the air stream for diffused flow.

5. A wall type heating surface assembly comprising a casing having a back and top and a front panel spaced from the back plate and the top and the floor line, a plurality of spaced brackets mounted in the casing, saddles carried by the brackets, a heat exchange element mounted on the saddles, each of said brackets being formed with a forwardly projecting finger extending to the upper edge of the front panel, said finger being above the heat exchange element, a lateral flange formed on each bracket above the finger and below the top of the casing, a bearing carried by the lateral flange, said'bearing comprising a curved portion on the flange and a resilient clip connected to the flange, said clip having a curved portion adjacent to but spaced from the curved portion of the flange, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, a damper having a substantially rectangular upper portion tangentially connected to the shaft along one edge thereof and a substantially rectangular lower portion connected to the upper portion between the edges thereof and depending therefrom toward the finger, the

widths of said portions being such that when the damper is swung to one position said portions substantially close the space between the casing top and front panel and when the damper is swung to another position the lower portion divides the air stream for flow on either side of said portions for diffused flow through said space.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,844,520 Olinger Feb. 9, 1932 2,381,201 Boate Aug. 7, 1945 2,651,504 Gundrum et al. Sept. 8, 1953 2,656,156 Wilcox Oct. 20, 1953 2,662,747 Trane et al. Dec. 15, 1953 

